Image transmission apparatus

Abstract

A transmission-side MFP receives a user name, checks whether the user name is registered in a destination user list, and if so, transmits image data to a reception-side MFP. If an ACK is received, the transmission-side MFP displays that transmission was successful. When a NACK is received or a time out occurs, the transmission-side MFP checks whether the user name is registered in an individual address book, and if so, transmits the image data using a corresponding transmission method. If an ACK is received, the transmission-side MFP displays that transmission was successful. If a timeout occurs, the transmission-side MFP displays that transmission failed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is based on application No. 2006-235525 filed in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002](1) Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus, and in particular to a technique for improving convenience for the user when transmitting image data.[0004](2) Description of the Related Art[0005]With significant progress in information communication techniques in recent years, it is now possible to select from among various communication methods such as e-mail, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SMB (Server Message Block), in addition to facsimile. Accordingly, MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) are equipped with functions that enable various methods to be used for transmitting and receiving image data obtained by reading a document with a scanner.[0006]It is the sender who determines which of the communication functions included in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention was conceived in view of the described problems, and has an object of providing an image transmission apparatus that, when used by a plurality of users, is highly convenient in terms of reducing the effort to designate a destination when a user transmits an image, and in particular when transmission of an image fails.

[0013]With the stated structure, the effort for the user to designate a destination when transmitting an image is reduced, thus achieving a high level of convenience. In particular, an individual list that is referred to when the image data cannot be transmitted to the image processing apparatus shown in the shared list is provided for each user of the image processing apparatus, and therefore the user can designate the destination flexibly in accordance with his / her needs.

[0015]Furthermore, an image transmission program according to one aspect of the present invention is an image transmission program embodied in a computer readable medium and being executed by an image transmission apparatus that transmits image data to an image processing apparatus that processes the image data in accordance with a destination name of the image data, the image transmission apparatus storing (a) a shared list that is shared by a plurality of users and that corresponds destination names with image processing apparatuses, and (b) a plurality of individual lists, each of which is administered by a different one of the plurality of users and that corresponds the destination names with apparatuses other than the image processing apparatuses corresponded therewith in the shared list, the image transmission program causing the image transmission apparatus to perform the steps of: receiving a destination name that is a name of a destination of image data; transmitting the image data in accordance with an instruction from a user; and judging whether or not the transmission of the image data succeeds or fails, wherein, when it is judged that transmission of the image data to the image processing apparatus corresponded with the destination name in the shared list has failed, the image data is transmitted to an apparatus that is corresponded with the destination name in the individual list administered by the user who instructed the transmission. This reduces the effort for the user to designate a destination when transmitting an image, thus achieving a high level of convenience. In particular, an individual list that is referred to when the image data cannot be transmitted to the image processing apparatus shown in the shared list is provided for each user of the image processing apparatus, and therefore the user can designate the destination flexibly in accordance with his / her needs.

[0016]Furthermore, an image transmission program of one aspect of the present invention is an image transmission program embodied in a computer readable medium and being executed by an image transmission apparatus that is used by a plurality of users, the image processing apparatus storing a shared list that is shared by the plurality of users and that corresponds destination names with image processing apparatuses, the image transmission program causing the image transmission apparatus to perform the steps of: receiving a destination name that is a name of a destination of image data; transmitting the image data in accordance with an instruction from a user; and judging whether or not the transmission of the image data succeeds or fails, wherein, the image transmission apparatus further stores a history list that corresponds transfer destinations with the destination names, each transfer destination being an apparatus to which transmitted image data has been transferred in the past, when the destination name is received in the destination name receiving step, in the transmitting step, the image data is transmitted to the image processing apparatus corresponded with the received destination name in the shared list, and when, in the judgment step it is judged that the transmission has failed, in the transmission step the image data is transmitted to the apparatus corresponded with the received destination name in the history list. This reduces the effort for the user to designate a destination for the image data.

Problems solved by technology

A further problem is that transmission of image data may fail for reasons such as the state of the MFP on the reception side.

When there is a relatively large number of destinations to which image data is to be transmitted, it is not just having to store each of the numerous destinations that is inconvenient and even extremely tedious for the user, but also having to input such destinations.

There are also problems such as image data being transmitted to the wrong destination.

For this reason, a problem arises that when a destination that one of the majority of users of the MFP needs to use is not already registered in the MFP, the user, unable to add the destination to those already registered himself / herself, will end up having to input the destination manually.

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